Stories, regardless of whether they’re told on paper or on screen, often contain a wealth of literary value. Stories connects us to larger, universal truths. They also connect with us on many different levels, through many different lenses. While it can be viewed through many different lenses, Today I’m looking about the spiritual connections that we can make in Avengers: Endgame. While the Avengers, and the larger MCU, are not in any way faith related, there are still larger archetypal connections that can be made. As always, there are major spoilers, so be aware as you continue forward.

Return to the Garden

At the beginning of Endgame, we see that Thanos has retired to a place he calls The Garden. The Garden? That’s pretty on the nose right there. In literature, garden are used as archetypal symbols of paradise. After Thanos finishes his quest, he retires to Titan II and lives in a garden where he spends his days tending the plants. In the Garden of Eden at the beginning of Genesis, Adam is put into the garden, and his job is to spend his days tending the garden, just like Thanos is doing.

Another subtle symbol in the garden is Thanos’s armor. The armor is hanging in the field, just like one would expect a scarecrow, but if we’re looking at all of this through a spiritual lens, then the armor gains another meaning. The armor is hanging on a cross-shaped structure. The cross, the garden. Essentially, this reflects Thanos’s view that he is the savior of the universe. He has sacrificed all to bring peace to the universe and is now getting he rest in paradise.

Speaking on Christ figures.

Tony Stark as a Christ Figure

This could be a post all on it’s own, but I’ll keep it as succinct as possible. In Endgame we see a very different version of Tony Stark. Through his actions, Tony Stark shows himself to be a Christ figure. In his book, How to Read Literature like a Professor, Thomas Foster outlines several characteristics for Christ figures, and Stark fits pretty well into the archetype.

Christ figures suffer agony, pain greater than most mortals are asked to endure. Ever since his inception as Iron Man, Tony Stark has suffered, not physically but psychologically. Stark develops an obsession with protecting the world. He sees visions and is haunted by the threat that looms over the earth, so much so that he doesn’t sleep anymore.

Christ figures are good with children. Contrary to what you may believe, Tony is actually very good with children. In Iron Man 3, he meets Harley Keener and, although he puts on a tough exterior, Stark takes care of Harley. Harley becomes somewhat of a sidekick to him, helping him with a lot of his technology issues. Stark also mentors Peter Parker. And who could forget his daughter, Morgan. Love you 3000.

Christ figures spend time in the wilderness. After The Snap, Tony is stranded on Titan, a desolated wasteland. He subsequently spent the next twenty days drifting in space, suffering from lack of food and water. While he technically was not alone, his time in the wilderness certainly mimics Jesus’s trials in the desert.

Abraham, Isaac, and Thanos

The Soul Stone requires the greatest sacrifice. We saw it in Infinity War when Thanos was forced to sacrifice Gamora to gain the Soul Stone and then again in Endgame when Black Widow is sacrificed for the same purpose. The idea of the Soul Stone is very reminiscent of Abraham and Isaac. God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac in order to see which was stronger, his desire to have a son and heir or his desire to be united with God. In the same way, the Soul Stone tests the true desires of its seeker.

Thanos’s Flood

In Infinity War, Thanos’s goal is to only destroy half of life in order to save it. This changes, however, in Endgame. In the events of Endgame, the Thanos that shows up holds nothing back. This Thanos has no desire to leave anyone left. He says, “I will shred this universe down to its last atom and then, with the stones you've collected for me, create a new one teeming with life that knows not what it has lost but only what it has been given.” In other words, Thanos is going to wipe out the entire universe in order to cleanse it and start all over. Sounds familiar. God does the same thing in Genesis, and there are many other flood narrative in other cultures that all have to do with cleansing the earth with a flood.

There’s a look at some of the spiritual connections to Avengers: Endgame. What do you think? What did I miss? Comment below.